Use these powerful tactics to become a better writer.
Writing is beautiful, but it can also be intimidating. I often feel anxious when I write, and I am sure I am not alone: apprehension about writing is very common, especially among amateur writers.
Having some level of anxiety associated with writing is normal and means that you care about writing well. In excessive quantities, however, stress can be an obstacle and may cause writer’s block.
The writing process doesn’t have to be frightening. If you feel unsure about the quality of your work, try new tactics to improve your writing skills.
According to Shani Raja — a former editor…
Failure can be inspiring if you own your mistakes.
During my first year in my current job, I made a big mistake. As a proofreader, one’s supposed to look for and catch mistakes, and I failed to do that — I didn’t spot an issue in the copy and the wrong content was sent out to customers.
I took it very, very bad. I still believe the skin rash I had immediately after the incident was a reaction to the stress I suffered at that moment.
Following the event, I had to explain myself to my manager.
My first reaction was denial. My defense mechanism was to refuse to…
Here’s useful information on how to set up your device.
Sarah Everard’s disappearance has put women's safety under the spotlight and prompted a serious online discussion about the dangers women can face when they are out alone, and the measures they can take to avoid them.
A very useful iPhone tip that is unknown by many has been circulating on social media. The emergency SOS feature is actually something everyone needs to be aware of, men and women alike, as it could really help us all feel and stay safe.
The approach differs depending on your operating system. Here’s how it works.
iOS
If you have an iPhone 8 and later…
Seek eudaimonia instead
“Say any word, and I’ll tell you how the root of that word is Greek.”
If you have watched the movie My Greek Fat Big Wedding, you may remember this line. Gus Portokalos, the protagonist’s father, is convinced that any word can be traced back to its Greek roots. When asked to explain the origin of the obviously Japanese word “kimono”, Gus ponders for a second and replies: “Kimono, kimono, kimono. Ah! Kimono is come from the Greek word kimona, which is mean winter. What do you wear in the winter? A robe! So, there you go!”
Gus’s grandiose talk…
The new service will compete directly with other freelance hiring sites like Upwork and Fiverr.
The move hasn’t been announced yet, but the Microsoft-owned professional network is developing a new service called Marketplaces to let its members find and book freelancers, according to The Informant.
The service is similar to platforms like Fiverr and Upwork, which focus on white-collar work such as consulting, writing, software development, and marketing.
Although the platform already offers a service to search for relevant freelancers by topic, Marketplaces will be more than just a place to connect with professionals. The new feature will allow customers to purchase services, compare rates, as well as post reviews and project proposals.
LinkedIn is…
Tips and tricks for improving your English using search engines and online dictionaries.
In 1884, a Portuguese translator named Pedro Carolino decided to write a book to help Portuguese students learn English. The fact that Carolino knew little to no English, and had no Portuguese-English dictionary at hand, didn’t seem to be a problem for him. He found a convoluted way to translate words and phrases from English to Portuguese: for each entry, he first consulted a Portuguese-French phrasebook, then a French-English dictionary. Needless to say, this contorted translation journey led to very funny results:
- “Anda de gatinhas” → “He go to four feet” (correct: “He’s crawling”)
- “Sabe montar a cavalo” → “He…
Physical activity is incredibly good for your physical and, according to neuroscience, mental health
I haven’t always been an active person. Actually, when I was a student it was quite the opposite — I couldn’t be bothered to work out. I was busy, of course, but I was also lazy. I couldn’t find the time to exercise because I didn’t want to. Mine were just excuses. You know what they say, “it’s not about finding time, it’s about making time”? Well, it’s true.
Flash forward ten years later, I’m older and no longer a student. I have a busy schedule — I work, commute, have a partner, chores to do, etc. And yet, I…
A shocking move that makes perfect sense
In the popular Netflix series “Emily in Paris”, Emily Cooper is a young marketing executive from Chicago who unexpectedly lands a job in Paris when her company acquires a French luxury marketing firm named Savoir. Emily moves to France to provide an American point of view and to revamp the company’s social media strategy, but she struggles at first to succeed in the workplace.
In one episode, Emily visits the atelier of haute couture designer Pierre Cadault. When Cadault notices the Eiffel Tower charm on her purse, he’s horrified and calls her “ringarde”, which means “basic b*tch” in French.
To…
A proofreader’s guide to flawless copy.
Effective proofreading is vital to the production of high-quality copy, and it can make the difference between successful and unsuccessful writing. No matter how much thought goes into your content, there is nothing that creates a bad impression quite like a misspelling.
One wrong letter is all it takes to chip away your readers or clients. Would you keep reading these article if it were ful of mistakess? No, you wouldn’t. (In case you didn’t notice, I misspelled a few words on purpose).
Nobody is perfect, and even the most meticulous proofreaders can make typos from time to time. Believe…
Artificial intelligence can be used to empower human copywriters to deliver results
What if marketers could leverage artificial intelligence for copywriting to deliver content that resonates with specific audiences?
What if, instead of relying on gut instinct alone, creative teams could be mathematically certain about the words and phrases to use in marketing campaigns?
It is now possible to apply science to the art of copywriting. Many brands have already started bringing together man and machine to produce compelling copy and achieve better results.
Human vs. Machine?
As the world grows increasingly computerized, humans have begun to wonder how AI will affect life as we know it. Science fiction writers have already explored the impact…
Giulia Penni
Copywriter @ Persado. Logophile. Lifelong learner. I don’t write to impress. I write to inform, entertain, inspire. Thanks for your time!
